After two years helping his Falcons from the sideline, Strauss suited up against Salisbury's rival Southern Lehigh. With 8.9 seconds to go in the game, he went in, got the ball and scored a touchdown.

It wasn't quite enough to win the game — final score, 42-34 in Southern Lehigh's favor. But for Tyler, it was a magical moment.

A loud roar went up from the Salisbury stands. Fans and cheerleaders shouted, "Tyler! Tyler! Tyler! Tyler!"

Tyler, who has a developmental disorder, ran the ball into the end zone wearing 44, the number of Teddy Denver, one of three Falcon players who urged him to become part of the team. Denver broke his leg in Friday night's game.

The Southern Lehigh Spartans play the Salisbury Township Falcons in an conference game at Salisbury on Friday, Oct 31. (CHRIS KNIGHT / SPECIAL TO THE MORNING CALL)

Tyler's other mentor, Wes Maron, had been sidelined with an injury since this season's first game.

Despite the injury, Maron went onto the field as a fullback and, surrounded by other teammates, led Tyler 70 yards down the field.

"Go! Go! Go!" the spectators screamed as Tyler took the ball in to score. The cheers grew to another roar.

"Tyler is a perfect example of what inclusion should be," Cerco said. "When he walks down the hall, people say hi. He's part of the community. Teddy and Wes treat Tyler like one of the guys, and that's what he's become."

Cerco said the original plan was for Denver to lead Tyler down the field, but Denver's fractured leg scrubbed that idea and Maron stepped in.

Tyler, a sophomore, has a genetic condition that is the most widespread cause of intellectual disability and a known cause of autism. He's also a big football fan.

When he was approached by Cerco, a special education teacher, about becoming the football team's manager two years ago, Tyler got his opportunity to be around the sport he loves.

Earlier this week, his mother said football has had a profound effect on the life of her son, who has Fragile X Syndrome, also known as Martin-Bell Syndrome.

"Oh my gosh," Kristin Strauss said. "He just feels so much more confident and he feels like he's part of something. Having him as part of team has just been amazing for him."

Fragile X affects both males and females, but is more common in boys, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which estimates that one in every 5,000 males is born with the disorder. Among the symptoms are developmental delays, difficulty learning new skills and social and behavioral problems.

There is no cure for it, but there are treatments available for those who suffer from the disorder.

Kristin Strauss said Nic also has Fragile X and serves as manager for the middle school football team.

She said Tyler quickly connected with members of the team.

Tyler can throw a football fairly well, his mother said, but his motor skills are lacking. She said playing in a football game would present "way too much stimulation" and confusion for his son.

"When you have that disability, it's overwhelming," she said. "He's great being on the [sideline] because he's away from the crowd."

While Tyler is manager in title, he has also taken on a cheerleading role.

"He lifts all of their spirits," his mother said. "On the sidelines, he's right there with them. He just motivates them."

Tyler has a particular connection to the team's seniors, Cerco said.

"This senior class has really done an amazing job of bringing him in and making him one of the guys," said Cerco, who has been teaching at Salisbury since 2005 and became head coach in 2012. "That's why we're doing this now.

"Most stories you hear about like this, it's usually when the kid's a senior. But there's such a connection between Tyler and this senior class that they wanted to do something for him this year."

The players, led by seniors Denver and Maron along with junior Nate Davidson, approached Cerco with the idea of getting Tyler into the season finale against Southern Lehigh.

"They were out-of-their-minds excited about the opportunity to do this for Tyler," said Cerco, who then approached Southern Lehigh coach John Toman — who coincidently is Strauss' neighbor in Salisbury Township.

The Falcon players have done more than simply find a way to get their friend on the field. They came up with a plan to sell "Together We Are 1" T-shirts to raise awareness for Fragile X and for all students with disabilities. They also provide support and help for the students in Cerco's class.

"It's really amazing to see," Cerco said.

Strauss spent the past week working toward his big night on the football field.

"He's just been soaking it up," Cerco said. "Every day he's right there asking, 'Coach, when do we get to run my play?' And then when we run it, he and the kids are all smiles. It's been amazing to see."

After one of the practices, the youngster also provided Cerco with what he called "one of my best coaching moments."

"He came up and looked me in the eyes and said, 'Thank you for letting me do this,'" Cerco said, his voice cracking a bit. "This means the world to him and to all of us."